Apparatus for suppressing surges



Oct. 28, 1930..

w. D. POM-EROY 4 APPAR ATUS FOR SUPPRESSING SURG'ES I Filed May 16-, 192B 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. I

I INVENTOR BY Z @714, A OR Y5" Patented Oct; 28, 1930 UNITED v STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAMD. POMEROY, OE SENECA EALLs, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR To GOULDS Emu-s,

INCORPORATED, 015 SENECA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR SUPPRESSING SURGES Application filed May 16, 1928.

This invention relates to an apparatus for suppressing surges in hydraulic systems,

pipe lines and the like, and particularly in pipe lines which are in high duty service, such as conveying oil in the crude or refined states.

, crush the float; and in particular to provide apparatus which'is an improvement on that disclosed in my copending'application, Serial No. 17 8,644, filed March 26, 1927.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view partially in section and partially in elevation showing a portion of a hydraulic system including a pump constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 isa vertical section showing details of the surge-suppressing device employed in connection with the hydraulic system shown in Fig. 1; and

- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View, partially in section and partially in elevation showing the surge suppressing device in a vertical plane at right angles to Fig. 2.

ln hydraulic systemssuch as are employed in the petroleum industry, it is, common to employ two or more pumps discharging into a common manifold from which pressure im- Serial No. 278,097.

pulses may be reflected in the pipe line. It has been proposed by me, as disclosed in my former application above referred to, to suppress the surges which arise in the hydraulic system due to such reflections by providing a' reacting device which will dissipate the energy of the surge without impressing an impulse of its own upon the system. The surge which would otherwise build up to harmful magnitudes is thus harmlessly dissipated. A hydraulic system adapted to discharge into a manifold (not shown here in the interests of clearness) is shown in the drawings where denotes the cylinder of a reciprocating pump, the cylinder having a discharge pipe 11 leading to a pipe line 12. Interposed between the pipe 11 and the pipeline 12 is a T-coupling 13 leading to a surge dissipating device 14, communication between the device 14 and the coupling 13 being controlled by a valve 15. (The valve 33 may in some cases be the only control.)

As shown in Fig. 2 the surge dissipating device is of the air cushion type, and comprises a base coupling or member 17 having an axial passage-way 18 adapted to communicate directly with the valve and the pipe line 12. On the base member is preferably disposed a second or intermediate member 19. and upon this a main chamber 20. This chamber may be made in any suit-- able form and is here shown as made from a piece of straight tubing to which a coupling flange 21 is welded or otherwise firmly secured at the lower end, and at the upper end an end-closure 22 (here shown as inwardly concave) is similarly secured. By this arrangement the parts of the air cushion device may be firmly held together by bolts passing through the flange on the base member 17 and that on the main chamber as indicated at 23 in Fig. 3. lVithin the main chamber is a float 24, which is shown as comprising a chambered body in the form of a cylindrical drum having a constricted lower cylindrical extension 25 open at its lower end and adapted to be immersed in the fluid entering the chamber 20 against the pressure of the trapped gaseous medium within the same.

This construction is so proportioned as to.

shown is designed to have trapped within the same a large body of gas, the liquid which enters must needs pass up through the constricted portion 25, this constricted portion;

being of a diameter such as to permit only a limited surface of the liquid to be exposed to the gas within the float chamber. At the extreme lower end, the constricted portion 25 of the float is provided with laterally extending guiding fins 26. The float thus pro-v vided is free to move up and down in the main chamber 20, its downward movement being arrested by means of the cross-bar 27 a secured on a resiliently-held abutment or plunger 28. As shown, this resiliently-held abutment serves as a valve-operating member and has an inverted cup-shaped body flange fitted over the upper end of a helical spring 29 that is supported by the tubular rojection 30 extending upwardly from a. iiridge member 31. This latter as shown is formed on and extends up from the intermediate member 19.

In the centre of the intermediate member 19 is disposed a seat member 32 for a valve, the seat being preferably in a plane oblique to the lon itudinal axes of the chamber assembly. ooperating with the seat is a valve disk 33 attached to an arm 34 pivoted at 35 to the under side of the bridge member 31. The arm 34 carries a lateral pin 36 with which a link 37 engages to connect it with a pin 38, which is passed through a downward extension 39 of the abutment 28, the extension 39 being preferably arranged to telescope loosely with the tubular extension 30. The extension 39 is preferably hollow so as to provide a passage from the under side of the bridge to the top of the abutment 28, with which passage there communicates the small upwardly extending tube 40.

A transverse passage 41 is provided in the side of the intermediate member 19 which communicates with a vertical bore having an opening 43 communicating with the space on the under side of the bridge 31, which preferably has a skirt 31 on its under side depending into this space below the opening 43 so as to trap air and direct it up through the extension 39. The passage 41 is adapted to be connected, by means of suitable-pipe connections as shown at 44 in Fig. 1, with a suitable source of a gaseous medium under relatively high pressure, for example, a compressed air supply (not shown in the interests of clearness).

By this arrangement a valve mechanism, for closing the fluid entrance should the float drop for any reason, is provided, that is entirely separate from the float, and as a consequence it can be made relatively massive, yet the moving parts such as the valve disk and arm may be made of relatively light materials so as to secure sensitive and quick operation of the valve mechanism.

In operation, the high pressure gaseous medium is admitted from the source of supply through the pipe 44 to the main chamber untll a pressurewithin is attained which substantially balances that of the liquid being pumped, such as crude petroleum. This high pressure gas may be admitted all at once or in various stages when starting the system pumping so as to correspond to the rise in the pressure of the liquid in the system. The gas thus admitted enters the float chamber through the passages 41 and 42 and thence passes upwardly to the central tube 40, which causes the float to rise in the liquid and the gas to bubble out at the lower end until the upper end of the main chamber, is substantially filled with gas at the desired pressure.

As pointed outabove, the construction here employed for the float construction provides that a relatively small area of the liquid in the main chamber is exposed to the high pressure gas. Consequently the absorption or dissolving of the gas in the oil or other liquid is substantially avoided or reduced to a minimum, since the contacting surfaces between, the gas and the liquid is thus as small as practical. When a. surge arises in the pipe line a pressure impulse'will build up and pass directly under the orifice entering the main chamber and cause a rapid influx of liquid thereinto, this being accompanied by a flow of the liquid into the float through its lower orifice which is generally some distance above the bar 27. The float in consequence tends to rise while the trapped gas within the float 24 may be slightly compressed. Such movement results substantially immediately in a reaction operating to suppress the surge and dissipate the energy thereon. r i

Should there be a sudden or transient falling-off of the pressure in the pipe line, the liquid will flow out of the air chamber, and in so doing will permit the float to drop and bear down upon the bar 27 and compress the spring 29, and by so doing lower the link 37 and the arm 34, thereby seating the valve 33 upon its seat 32. This closes the main chamber so that further exit of liquid, and particularly of the high pressure gas, is prevented.- Consequently so-called air pockets .in the pipe line, due to the employment of a Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and diflerent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a hydraulic system, the combination with a pipe line subject to periodic pressure impulses, of a main chamber having a fluid communication at its lower end with said pipe line, means for supplying a gaseous medium under pressure to said main chamber, and a float within said main chamber having a reduced lower open end arranged to expose a relatively small amount of fluid at the orifice of said main chamber to said gaseous medium.

2. In a hydraulic system, the combination with a pipe line subject to periodic pressure impulses, of a main chamber having a fluid communication at its lower end with said pipe line, means for supplying a gaseous medium under pressure to said main chamber, and a float chamber Within said main chamber having any upper cylindrical. portion substantially of the diameter of said main chamber and a. reduced lower open-. ended construction portion depending into the fluid medium at the orificeof said main chamber.

3. In a hydraulic system, the combination with a pipe line subject to periodic pressure impulses, of a main chamber having a fluid communication at its lower endwith said pipe line, means for supplying a gaseous medium under pressure. to said main chamber, a valve-controlled communication between said main chamber and said-pipe line, and a float chamber having an openlower end within said main chamber operatively disposed for actuating said valve, whereby said float chamber. permits said valve to be open for a predetermined fluid level in said main chamber and to close the same to prevent egress of both the fluid and the gaseous medium from said main chamber when said fluid level has fallen a predetermined amount. l

4:. In a hydraulic system; the combination v with a pipe line subject to periodic pressure impulses, of a main chamber having a fluid communication at 1ts lower end with said pipe line, means for supplying a gaseous communication at its lower end with said pipe line, means for supplying a gaseous medium under pressure to said main chamber, a valve resiliently held in open position adapted to control the communication between said main chamber and said pipe line, and a separate float member within "said chamber adapted to engage said valv'eand cause the same to close upon the drop of the fluid level in said chamber below a predetermined point. I Y

6. Ina hydraulic system, the combination with a pipeline subject to periodic'pressur'e impulses, of a main chamber having a fluid communication at its lower end with said pipe line, meansifor supplying a gaseous medium under pressure to said main chamber, a valve yieldingly held in open position adapted to control the communication between said pipe line and said main chamber,

and a float chamber within said main chamber having ,a constricted depending open lower end and being adapted to cause said valve to open and cl0se,-whereby said Valve remains in closed position when the fluidlevel falls below a predetermined point in said main chamber.

7. In a hydraulic system, the combination with a pipe line subject to periodic pressure impulses, of a main chamber having a fluid communication at its lower end with said pipe line, means for supplying a gaseous medium under pressure to said main chamber, a valve actuating member yi'eldingly held in valve-open position, a valve connected to saidmember and adapted to control the communication between said pipe line and said main chamber, and a float within said main chamber having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower depending portion arranged to engage with said valve actuating member.

8. In a hydraulic system, the combination with a pipe line subject to periodic pressure impulses, of a main chamber having a fluid communication at its lower end with said pipe line, means for supplying a gaseous medium under pressure to said main chamber,

a member having'a valve seat disposed in communication between said main chamber and said pipe line, a valve pivotally mounted and adapted to seat upon said seat member, an actuating member for said valve operatively connected thereto and resiliently supported in a position for maintaining said valve in an unseated position, a float chamber within said main chamber arranged to expose substantially a minimum of fluid surface within and without said float chamber to said gaseous medium and adapted to engage with saidvalve actuating member when fallen to a lower position.

9. In a surge suppressing device for pipe lines and the like, the combination witha coupling adapted to have unobstructed communication with said pipe line, of an elongated cylindrical main chamber secured to said coupling, a pipe connection associated with said coupling for admitting a gaseous medium under pressure to said chamber, and .a float within said chamber having an elongated cylindrical upper portion of a diameter approximating the interior diameter of said main chamber, and a constricted lower openended'portion adapted to admit liquid increments against a body of compressed gas trapped within the same.

10. In a surge suppressing device for pipe lines and the like, the combination with a coupling adapted to have unobstructed communication with said pipe lines, of an elongated cylindrical main chamber secured to said coupling, an intermediate coupling disposed between said main chamber and said firstnamed coupling and having a valve seat portion in register with the communicating passage in said first coupling, a bridge member on said intermediate coupling, a valve operatively mounted on said bridge member and adapted to engage with said seat, actuating means for said valve extending above said bridge member, and a float chamber within said main chamber having a depending portion adapted to engage with said actuating means.

11. In a surge suppressing device for pipe munication with said pipe line, of an elongated cylindrical main chamber secured to said coupling, and an intermediate coupling disposed between said first-named coupling and said main chamber and provided with a valve seat member having an opening in register with the passage through said firstnamed coupling, said intermediate coupling having a bridge member adapted to extend into said main chamber above said opening, a valve member pivotally supported on said bridge member and arranged to engage with said seat member, an actuating member resiliently supported above said bridge member and having an operative connection with said pivotal valve member, a passage in said intermediate coupling adapted to supply a gaseousmedium under pressure to said main chamber exhausting under said bridge member, a tubular connection extending upwardly from said valve actuating member and arranged to permit the passage of said gaseous medium from said first-named passage upwardly, and a float chamber having an upper cylindrical portion of a diameter approximating that of the internal diameter of said main chamber and a lower open-ended constricted portion depending from said firstnamed cylindrical portion about said up wardly extending tube and adapted to engage with said valve actuating member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM D. POMEROY.

lines and the like, the combination with a I coupling adapted to have unobstructed communication with said pipe line, of an elongated cylindrical main chamber secured to said coupling, an intermediate coupling disposed between said main chamber and said first-named coupling and having a valve seat portion in register with the communicating passage in said first coupling, a bridge member on said intermediate coupling, a valve operatively mounted on said bridge member and adapted to engage with said seat, actuating means for said valve extending above said bridge member, and a float chamber within said main chamber having an elongated cylindrical upper portion of a diameter approximating that of the interior diameter of said main chamber, and a constricted open-ended Iportion depending from said cylindrical portion adapted to engage with said actuating means. 

